Separator.



W. L. MORRIS.

' SEPARATOR.

1,176,774 I APPLICATION FILED APILZS ISIO- Patented" Mar. 28

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

: rrE s'rArEs WILLIAM L. MORRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T S. F.BOWSER & CO. INC.,

OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA,"A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

snremwon y To all whom it mag concern: v

Be it, known that I, WILLIAM L. Mourns, acitizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators, which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to separators and i has for its primary object toprovide an improved construction, combination and arrangement of partsin separators for removing water from a mixture of oil and water.

One object is to" provide an improved device of this character whichwill be rapid and efficient in action, economic and simple inconstruction and in which the parts are readily accessible.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby the water level in adevice of this character may be maintained substantially constant orvaried within certain limits.

Another object is to provide improved means for ascertaining thecondition of the fluid in the neighborhood of the water level v in theseparator chamber.

Another object is to provide improved means whereby samples of the fluidmay be withdrawn at different levels adjacent the water level intheseparator chamber. Another object is to provide improved means foradjusting the water level in said separator chamber.

' Other and further objects will appear in the specification and be morespecifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to thedrawings exemplifying the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the preferredembodiment of this invention. partly broken away of one of theprecipitating trays or pans to be referred. to hereinafter. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the uppermost precipitating tray or pan. Fig. 4 is afragmentary view in perspective showing the method of mounting theuppermost tray on the side walls of the separator housing. Fig. 5 is afront view of the sampling device. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of amodifiedform of'the invention; Fig. is a vertical section of stillanother modification of the invention.

Referring to the embodiments shown in the drawings and first to thatembodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the main Specification ofLetters Patent.

Fig.- 2 is a perspective view Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Application filed April 25, 1910. Serial No. 557,319,

separator housing is here shown cylindrical in form and comprises anouter cylindrical shell 1 having a bottom 2 secured thereto in anysu1tab le manner, preferably by a plura'lity of rivets 3; Said shell isopen at the top and provided with a round cover 4, said cover havingthereon handles 5 whereby it may be readily removed and replaced atwill. An inlet pipe 6 for the mixture of oil and water and otheringredients suspended 1n the mixture, enters the shell 1 of the housing,preferably ata point approxima-tely midway of the height of saidhou'sing. The inlet chamber 7 of the separator 15 provided by having aninner cylindrical shell 8 secured to the outer cylindrical shell bymeans ofrivets 9 or, other suitable fasteners, said shell 8 beingprovided with an outwardly flanged portion 10 for spacing said shellfrom the outer shell 1. Said inner shell 8 depends to a pointin thehousing adjacent to which it is desired to maintain the water, level tobe hereinafter referred to and is arranged and constructed to leave anan nular opening between the inlet chamber 7 and the lower portion ofthe main separator chamber wherein the water accumulates, Ad acent theupper end of the inlet chamber 7' the inner shell 8 is perforated at aplurality of points and provided with inwardly projecting spouts or.nozzles 11 through which the partially purified fluid is introduced intothe inner separator chamber 12 through which the fluid moves with arelatively slow movement. The water and other heavier impurities of themixture which becomes separated in the inlet chamber 7, sink downwardlyinto the lower portion of the separator adjacent the the bottom 2. Byreason of the slower movement-of the fluid through the inner chamber 12further separation is brought about by the heavier portions of thepartially purified fluid being enabled to seek their level causing theoil and lighter portions to be forced upwardly toward the precipitatingpans or trays tobe presently referred to.

In order to prevent intermixture of the separated'fiuids in the inletchamber 7 and 7 the inner chamber 12, the water level in the bottom ofthe separator is maintained above 1 ber 12. I Projecting upwardly andinwardly from the annular shoulder formed by the offthe lower edge 13 ofthe inner shell 8, thus providing a water seal for the inner chammgaround the thereof is a. water-return pipe 16, the lower end of whichreaches preferably to a pointadjacent the lower edge 13 of the innershell 8. Arranged in a tier above the lowermost pan or tray 15 are aplurality of other trays 17 of somewhat similar construction, each tray17 being supported from the one below by means of upwardly projectingarms 18. The uppermost tray 19 is partly supported in a similar mannerupon arms 18 butis of a different construction from the other pans ortrays being provided with an outer cylindrical wall 20 for closing itout of communication with the annular space extendperiphery of the otherpans or trays, and an inner cylindrical wall 21, which provides anannular receptacle 22 and an inner basin 23. Each of the pans or traysabove the lowermost is provided with a central depending nozzle ornipple 24 coaxially arranged with the pipe 16 and nesting one in theother in such manner as to place each of the trays in communication witha passage Way formed through said nipples while said trays fromcommunication with each other by the central opening therethrough. Inaddition'each tray above'the lowermost is provided with a plurality ofupwardly projecting nipples 25 which are also arranged in a plurality oftiers to provide passageways from the lowermost pan. or tray 15 to theinner basin 23 of the uppermost tray 19. Said nipples 25' at out offcommunication from adjacent trays y reason of the upward flowtherethrough and restrict the upward passage of fluid so that the flowis practically uniform over all of the trays. As the partly purified oilflows inwardly from the peripheries of the several pans or trays, astillfurther separation of water and other relatively heavy ingredientsis made possible, any precipitation which may occur in each tray beingreturned by the pipe 16 to the water space at the bottom of theseparator, the oil being forced upwardly through the flow into thesettling basin 23 where if there still be any water or other relativelyheavy ingredients, it may be directed down through the nipplesat thecenter into the pipe 16. After the settling basin 23 has become filledthe oil overflows into the annular chamber 22 from whence it passesoutwardly through the outlet 26, preferably to the purification iscompleted. The overflow the level of the with the outlet 34 as shown inthe drawin thus making at the same time cutting ofi' the same timenipples Y25 and over an oil filter where level of. the oil the top-ofthe settling chamber 23. Inorder to provide means for maintainm g sealthe lower end of the inner chamber 12, a stand pipe 27 is preferablyemployed, which is connected below by a branch 28 with the lower end ofthe separator chamber. Said stand pipe 27 passes upwardly through thebottom .of an overflow chamber 28 and is provided above with screwthreads at 29 whereon an overflow cup 30 is is therefore maintained atwater sufficiently high to threaded, the joint between the cup and theend of the stand pipe being packed by a packing nut 31 which also actsas acheck nut.

Leading from the overflow chamber 28 is a drain pipe 32 which the standpipe 27 and is provided with a connection 33 leading to the stand pipe.Leading outwardly from the drain pipe 32 is an outlet pipe 34. At theintersection of the drain 32, outlet pipe 34 and connection 33 leadingto the stand pipe 27, is a threeway cock 35 by means of which theoverflow chamber 28 may be left in communication 57 the overflow levelfor water at the top of the cup 30. On the other hand, should it bedesired to raise the water level higher or to the top of the overflowchamber 28, the three-way cook 35 may be'turned to connect theconnection 28 with the drain 32, thus permitting the water to accumulatein the drain 32 and to fill up the overflow cham-.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the

uppermost tray or pan 19 is provided with an additional support from thecylindrical housing 1 by means of a slotted bracket 37 mounted on theinner wall of said housing and an angle bracket '38 mounted on the outercylindrical wall 20 of said pan and adapted to interengage with saidslotted bracket 37.

In order to facilitate the separation of the 'l and water, steam may beadmitted through a steam pipe 39, and after being passed about the innerchamber 12 preferably through the inlet chamber 7, may be discharged at40. In order to provide means for removing the diately above andadjacent the water level, an outlet cock 41 may be connected with theinterior of the chamber 12 by means of a tubular connection 42.Preferably,.this connection is rotatably mounted in a suitable socketand provided with a deflected end portion 43 which,

preferably parallels" when the pipe 42 is ro-' lower strata of oilimmetrays,

tated, is moved to different levels in the chamber 13. Without thehousing 1 and on the tubular connection 42 may be mounted;

an indicator or pointer 44 which may be made to extend the same distancefrom the rotating axis of the tubular connection 42 and in the samedirection therefrom to indicate the exact level at w'hich the inlet endof the pipe 42 is located. By the use of this device, the separatorsystem is saved a great deal ofwork-that would otherwise be out"changing its level, in either case serving.

as a regular service drain-oil.

Referring -now to Fig. 6, in which is shown a modification of theinvention according to which no allowance is made for draining Water Ifrom the sediment pans or a cylindrical housing 45 has the flu'id'mixture introduced thereinto by means of an inlet pipe 46, said pipe 46being provided on its inner end with a dripping sprayer 47. Extendingabout the sprayer. 47 is prefer ably arranged a steam pipe 48-hav1ng aninlet at 49, and an outlet 50. Disposed above the sprayer 47 andsupported in any suitable manner (not shown on the drawing) are aplurality of pans or trays 51, each of which is provided with anupwardly projecting cylindrical flange leaving a narrow annular openingbetween it and the next pan or tray above it.

Projecting upwardly. from each of the pans ortrays above the lowermost,is a frusto-conical nipple 52, said nipple being disposed to provide arestricted passage through into the uppermost tray while'shutting offeach tray from communication with the tray adjacent thereto. Theuppermost ,tray is provided with a central settling. chamber 53 whichoverflows into an outer annular chamber 54, said annular chamberdischarging through an outlet 55. In this embodiment of the invention,the movement of fluid over the trays and throughout the entire separatoris slow and retarded, because of the restricted upward passages throughthe nipples 52, thus enabling a complete.

precipitation of the water which collects at the bottom as indicated bythe reference numeral 56. The narrow annular openings leading to theseveral trays through which the oil must pass to reach the outlet 55,serves to make the separating action more effective. As occasiondemands, the water may be drawn off at the bottom of the separatorthrough a pipe 57.

Referring now to the embodiment shown draw off foul oil at any de- Isired level, or may be passages.

in Fig. 7, in which no sediment trays are, made use of, this embodimentshows a construction which can be made comparatively cheap, but at thesame time quite eflective in operation. In this embodiment the inletchamber shown in Fig. 1 is omitted, the fluid mixture is introducedthrough a pipe 58 into the sediment basin 59, a separating action takingplace as the oil and water and other. ingredients sink through thedepend- 75 ing tube 60 attached to said basin 59. The lower end of thetube 60 communicates with a chamber 61 about midway of the height ofsaid chamber so that as soon as the mixture reaches the lower end ofsaid tube, the oil rises upwardly into the chamber 61 and passesoutwardly through a plurality of nozzles or openings 62, and thence onupwardly to an oil discharge outlet 63 in the outer cylindrical wall ofthe separator. A steam pipe 64 serves to facilitate the separatingaction. Communicating with the bottom end of the separator in thisembodiment is a stand pipe 65 of modified form provided with an overflowoutlet 66. For draining or cleaning the separator an outlet pipe 67 isprovided in the lower cylindrical wall of the separator. A sight gage 68serves to indicate the height of the water level while a spigot 69provides means for drawingofl a sample of the fluid adjacent to thewater level.

While I have exemplified my invention by a specific description of theembodiments shown in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited to thespecific construction, combination and arrangement of 'parts showntherein, there obviously being many modi- ,fications possible within thespirit of my 2. In a separator, the combination with an outer shellclosed at the bottom, of an inner shell forming an annular chamberbetween it and the outer shell, said annular chamber being closed above,an inlet into 1 said annular chamber, a plurality of precipitating traysabove said annular chamber, and an outlet for oil above said trays.

3. In a separator, the combination with an outer shell, of an innershells-with, an outwardly projecting flange forming an in closed annularchamber between said shells, said inner shell being perforated adjacentits upper end, and a precipitating tray mounted above said annularchamber and 0 I with a depending-tube extending through chamber toindicate the of the inlet end of the said nipples bein said inner shell.

4. In an oil and water separator, the combination of a chamber providedwith an oil inlet above and a Water inlet below, a variable leveldraw-ofi' intermediate the inlet and outlet consisting ofa fixed cockoutside of the chamber, a bent tube therefor rotatable within thechamberto place its, inner end at various heights, and a pointer connected tothe rotatable tube outside of the tube.

5. A separator provided with a plurality of precipitatingtrays, saidtrays being provided with ali'ned'up-taking but restricted passagesadjacent the center.

6. A separator comprising a plurality of superposed precipitating trayshaving spaced peripheries, and each of said tray vided with unobstructedconnections adjacent the center for conducting the oil from each trayupwardly. through a restricted passage in the other trays.

In a separator, the combination of a plurality of precipitating trayshaving their.

peripheries spaced apart, each of said trays being provided with anupwardly projecting restricted nipple adjacent the center and said traysbeing provided with connections for precipitating the heavier portionsof the fluid and the uppermost tray being provided with an upwardlyprojecting shellv into whichall of said trays discharge, and. anover-flow leading from said shell.

8. In a separator, the combination with an uppermost tray provided withan overflow and a lowermost tray provided with a 'depending pipe, of aplurality of'intermediate trays, all of said trays being spaced apartand open around their peripheries, a tubular restricted passageconnecting the uppermost tray with each of the other trays independentof the peripheral opening, a' tubular connection between each tray andsaid dependfor said trays pro ing pipe, and a housing vided with a lowerchamber in which the I oil and water separate by gravity, said chamberbeing in open communication with the space about the peripheries of saidtrays.

.9. In a separator, the combination of a plurality of sediment traysnested together, a plurality of upwardly projecting nipples connectedwith different trays respectively,

nested to provide a restricted channel rom the space above the lowermosttray to the uppermost tray and held separated to provide a dischargeopening from each of the other trays into said passage, and a dependingnipple connected to each of the trays, said depending nipples beingnested and spaced to provide a water outlet from all of said trays.

10, In a separator, the combination of a outlet from all of said trays,position and height s being procries, each of said trays being providedplurality of sediment trays nested together, I

a plurality of upwardly projecting nipples connected with differenttraysjrespectivel-y, said nipples being nested to provide a restrictedchannel from the space above the lowermost tray to the uppermost trayand held separated to ing from each of the other trays into saidpassage, a depending nipple connected. to each' of thetrays, saiddepending nipples being nested and spaced to provide a water a housingsurroundin said trays, said housing being provided with 'a chamber belowthe trays'for gravity separated volumes of oil and water, and a pipeforming a continuation of the lowermost nipple and extending below theplane of separation between the oil and water. v

11. In a separator for oil and water, the combination of precipitatingtrays coaxially spaced toreceive fluid around their periphafrusto-eonical nozzle for the tray below and upward extending restrictednozzles for the tray above, said nozzles being arranged to project eachwithin the other lower or hlgher corresponding nozzle. 4

12. In a separator for'oil and water, the combination'wi'th aprecipitating chamber, of a plurality of removableprecipitating traysreceiving fluid at their periphery and provide a discharge openr.

sis

with

discharging'a. restricted amount adjacent the center, and handles foreach tray, said ban-g dles being adapted to hold thetrays apart. In aseparator for oil and water, the combination with a precipitatingchamber,

of a plurality of removable recipitating trays receiving fluid at theirperiphery and discharging a restricted amount adjacent the center, andhandles for each. tray, said handles being adapted to hold thetraysapart, the uppermost tray 'being provided with means for"supporting it independently of the other trays.

14. In a separator for water and oil, the combination with aprovidedwith a tierof submerged precipitating trays over which the oilis passed from-periphery toward the center, a removprecipitating chamberable cover for enabling the. removal of said trays, the uppermost traybeing provided with a settling basin into which the other traysdischarge and'with an annular chamber extending around said basin, saidannular chamber being partitioned ofl" from the space around the trays,and anoverflow opening from said annular chamber, said basinbeingdisposed to overflow into said annular chamber.

15. In a separator, the combination with an over-flow tray, traysdisposed below the overflow tray and spaced apart over the edges ofwhich fluid passes in parallel, the trays being each properipheries ofthe other.

of a series of superposedvided with an upwardly extending tube twosubscribing Witnesses, on this 12th day which resists the upward flow offluid to of April, A. D. 1910.

the overflow tray to such an extent that the same amount of fluid Willpass over each WILLIAM MORRIS 5 tray. \Vitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my RoY C. WALKER,

name to this specification, 1n the presence of FREDERICK G. VEIRQ

